Compact camera module with lens array

• US 8,289,409 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Jen-Tsorng
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US12/862,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20110176020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 348/218.1, 348/374
• US Class Current: 348/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors

Abstract

A camera module includes a plurality of lenses with different focal lengths, a supporting plate, an image sensor, and a processor. The supporting plate defines a plurality of through holes receiving the corresponding lenses. The image sensor includes a sensing area. The sensing area is configured for receiving light through the lenses and the through holes and converting the light into electrical signals. The processor is electrically connected to the image sensor. The processor is configured for processing the electrical signals to form sub-images of a same view of same objects with different depths of field and then combining the sub-images into a final image.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

a plurality of lenses with different focal lengths;

a supporting plate defining a plurality of through holes receiving the corresponding lenses;

an image sensor comprising a sensing area configured for receiving light through the lenses and the through holes and converting the light into electrical signals;

a spacer positioned between the supporting plate and the image sensor, the spacer defining a plurality of apertures spatially corresponding to the lenses; and

a processor electrically connected to the image sensor, the processor configured for processing the electrical signals to form sub-images of a same view of same objects with different depths of field and then combining the sub-images into a final image.

2. The camera module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing area comprises a plurality of sensing portions optically aligned with the lenses.

3. The camera module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the spacer conforms to that of the seining area.

4. The camera module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the image sensor is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor.

5. The camera module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the image sensor is a charged coupled device.

6. The camera module as claimed in claim 3, wherein each lens is made of glass or resin.

7. The camera module as claimed in claim 3, wherein each lens is an aspherical lens or a spherical lens.